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Attic fires can present a significant challenge for engine companies. Access is often limited, visibility is poor, and the structural components of the roof can prevent an exterior hose stream from reaching the burning materials. When crews are unable to quickly access the attic from the interior, an exterior eave sweep may provide an effective way to slow fire growth and improve interior conditions.
A common instinct is to direct a straight or solid stream through a gable vent. While this may appear to provide direct access to the attic, roof trusses and other structural components can block the stream. Water may strike the trusses, fall to the attic floor, and cool only a small portion of the space.
A better option may be applying water through the eave.
Using a straight or solid stream, direct the water upward toward the underside of the roof decking. Start in one truss bay and work from one end of the attic to the other. As the water strikes the sheathing, it spreads throughout the bay, wets a larger portion of the burning surfaces, and cools more of the roof structure. Moving the stream from bay to bay allows crews to coat the majority of the attic while reducing the need to create large ventilation openings before suppression is underway.
This tactic is especially useful when attic access is delayed or interior conditions prevent crews from immediately opening the ceiling. It is not intended to replace an interior attack or overhaul. Instead, it can serve as a rapid method of applying water to the involved space while crews prepare for interior access.
Crews can practice this technique with a simple training prop or an acquired structure. Begin with a charged 1¾-inch hoseline equipped with a combination or smoothbore nozzle. First, flow water through a simulated gable opening and observe how the structural members limit stream penetration. Then apply the stream beneath the eave, moving from truss bay to truss bay while directing water toward the roof decking.
Water is only effective when it reaches the burning surfaces. Understanding how attic construction affects stream movement allows us to choose tactics that cool the space more efficiently, slow fire growth, and create safer conditions for interior crews. I encourage everyone to learn more by completing FSRI’s online course, Residential Attic and Exterior Fires, available here: https://tinyurl.com/378frfry
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